Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute 2021 Wrap Up

This week we welcomed the 15th class of Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute students to our region to network, learn about entrepreneurship and business, and have fun at the Lakes!

The students joined us at Lakeside Labs on Sunday to meet each other and kick off the week. Then after getting together with their teams and their first session of the business simulation, they got some time to meet their host families before heading to Arnolds Park to network with community members. Monday, they kicked things off early, jumping right into the business simulation after breakfast with an opportunity to hear from Tom Bedell as well.

Monday evening, some students participated in a Business Pitch Competition after dinner at Arrowwood. This gave who had a business idea or already had started a business a chance to win some money toward their venture.

Tuesday was a busy day with pitches for the business simulation in front of Venture Capitalists. That evening, Governor Kim Reynolds came to meet and speak with the students at Jim & Tresa Hussong's home.

Wednesday was an opportunity for the students to relax a bit. After lunch by the lake and listening to Denny Walker tell his entrepreneurial story, the students got to enjoy a taste of the Lakes Life here in Northwest Iowa at Arnolds Park Amusement Park and an afternoon on the lake followed by an evening with their homestay hosts. The week wrapped up this afternoon with a lunch and sendoff at Parks Boat Club.

THANK YOU to all our amazing Host Families and Sponsors!

Bank Midwest

Banwart Strategies

Dr. Bill & Sally Phelps

Community State Bank

Cory Juergens Construction

F8 Creative

Farmers Savings Bank

Farmers Trust & Savings Bank

IADG Community Foundation

Iowa ABI

Iowa Bankers Association

Iowa Farm Bureau

Iowa Lakes Community College

Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative

Iowa Wealth Management

Kozy Heat

KPMG LLP

Lakes Marketing & Print

MWI Components

Nick Cash

Northwest Bank

Okoboji Indian

Red Lab Technologies

Shine Bros. Corp.

Tecton Industries

The Three Sons

Tim & Joren Kinnetz

Tom & Molly Bedell

Williams & Company

Steve & Lori Boote

Neal & Kitty Conover

Al & Barb Giese

Jim & Tresa Hussong

Ken & Vickie Kemna

Mark & Brenda Olson

Austin Peterson

Dr. Bill & Sally Phelps

Dave & Melissa Sly

Bruce & LuAnn Tamisiea